Across Ealing, thousands of workers have taken part locally in strike action. They have joined in a nationwide Budget Day strike by protesting against pay cuts and what they and unions have said has been the undermining of public services including education and the NHS.
From school teachers to junior doctors, workers in Ealing have taken to the picket lines.
For many of the workers, it has been the first time they have taken any strike action. One striker told EALING.NEWS that it is “time to stand up for themselves”.
Doctors, teachers, underground workers, university Lecturers and civil servants were among those who downed tools and stood on pickets or joined the huge protest in Central London.
Oliver New, secretary of Ealing Trades Union Council told EALING.NEWS: “People across Ealing have been overwhelmingly sympathetic to those pushed into strike action. Its not simply about pay it’s also about being ignored by those at the top. It’s upsetting to be unvalued, underpaid and taken for granted. For example frontline NHS workers are struggling to maintain services while the Government ignores the health crisis, refuses to address the huge staff shortages and holds down wages. It’s a similar story elsewhere. If they won’t listen, people have to strike and support each other.”
Mr New added: “Despite everything, the Budget once again seemed be more about tax cuts and ‘incentives’ for the well-off. People are getting very angry.”
